This pointer, whose name is pronounced “brock-do-bor-bon-NAY,” is perfect for foot hunters because of its mild, tranquil temperament. Due to their petite stature and short coat, this breed makes a great house pet for a hunting family. The historic French province of Bourbonnais is where the old breed known as the Bourbonnais, which dates back to the 15th century, first appeared. French hunters had come to know the breed by the 1800s as a tailless pointer with striking fawn and liver ticking. Now well established in North America, the Braque du Bourbonnais occasionally has more puppies registered there than in its native France. He is kind and affectionate in the home and a serious, adaptable, intelligent hunter in the field.
Braque du Bourbonnais
affectionate / gentle / adaptable
Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.
Height
19-22.5 inches
Weight
35-53 pounds
Life Expectancy
10-12 years
Breed Traits & Characteristics
Shedding Level
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.
Coat Grooming Frequency
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.
Drooling Level
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.
Coat Type
Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.
Coat Length
Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.
Affectionate With Family
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.
Good With Young Children
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.
GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.
Shedding Level
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.
Coat Grooming Frequency
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.
Drooling Level
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.
Coat Type
Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.
Coat Length
Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.
Openness To Strangers
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!
Playfulness Level
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.
Watchdog/Protective Nature
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.
Adaptability Level
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.
Trainability Level
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!
Energy Level
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.
Barking Level
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.
Mental Stimulation Needs
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.
About the Breed
What To Expect When Caring For a Braque du Bourbonnais
Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.
Health
The majority of Bourbonnais Pointing Dogs have good health. Those who want to own a Braque du Bourbonnais can learn all they need to know about particular health issues with the breed by working with an ethical breeder. To lower the risk of sickness in their puppies, good breeders use health screening and genetic testing on their breeding stock.
Grooming
A short, dense, fine layer covers the Braque du Bourbonnais. On the back, it is a little coarser and occasionally longer. The hair is finer and shorter on the head and ears. In addition to routine brushing, giving your Braque du Bourbonnais a bath every now and then will keep him clean and looking his best. For you and your dog, grooming can be a great way to strengthen your relationship. To prevent overgrowth, splitting, and cracking, the breed's strong, quickly growing nails should be routinely clipped using a nail clipper or grinder. Regular ear examinations are necessary to prevent wax and debris buildup, which can lead to infection. You should brush your teeth frequently.
Exercise
Playtime in the backyard, preferably gated, or being taken for walks multiple times a day are two options for exercise. Exercise can also be obtained through indoor games like hide-and-seek, chasing a ball that has been rolled across the floor, or practicing new moves. Swimming, hiking, and retrieving balls or flying discs are some examples of outdoor activities that can be a wonderful way to burn off energy. Dog sports training, such as agility, obedience, and rally, can also be a terrific method to exercise your dog.
Training
Handling the Braque du Bourbonnais should be done gently. He seeks out eye contact at all times and has the capacity to read the handler's mood.
Nutrition
The Braque du Bourbonnais should do well on a high-quality dog food, whether commercially manufactured or home-prepared with your veterinarian's supervision and approval. Any diet should be appropriate to the dog's age (puppy, adult, or senior). Some dogs are prone to getting overweight, so watch your dog's calorie consumption and weight level. Treats can be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause obesity. Learn about which human foods are safe for dogs, and which are not. Check with your vet if you have any concerns about your dog's weight or diet. Clean, fresh water should be available at all times.
History
Braque du Bourbonnais is a long-established breed. He is regarded as one of the French pointing breeds that date back the furthest. The breed was discussed in French literature as early as the late 1500s. The word “braque” is derived from a French verb meaning “to aim or point,” and as a noun can be rendered as “pointer.” The breed had a reputation for having great hunting instincts even back then.
Numerous breeds of French pointers exist, and the majority of experts concur that they all descended from the same stock, the French Pointer, or Braque Francais. In France, each breed of the pointer is named after the area in which it originated. For example, the Braque Saint Germain is the pointer from Saint Germain, the Braque d’Auvergne is the pointer from the Auvergne region, and the Braque du Bourbonnais is the pointer from the province of Bourbon in central France.
Numerous breeds of French pointers exist, and the majority of experts concur that they all descended from the same stock, the French Pointer, or Braque Francais. In France, each breed of the pointer is named after the area in which it originated. For example, the Braque Saint Germain is the pointer from Saint Germain, the Braque d’Auvergne is the pointer from the Auvergne region, and the Braque du Bourbonnais is the pointer from the province of Bourbon in central France.
The first Club du Braque du Bourbonnais was established in 1925 by a group of passionate breeders with the intention of revitalizing the breed and returning it to its pre-war popularity. The club’s inaugural bulletin from 1930 contained the initial breed standard. The tight devotion to a naturally tailless dog and stringent color requirements resulted in a dog oriented on looks more than performance, despite the fact that the organization and these breeders achieved significant advances. As a result, many breeders lost interest in the breed, and from 1963 to 1973, no pups were recorded.
A second Club du Braque du Bourbonnais was created in 1982 by Michel Comte, with official recognition by the Society Centrale Canine (SCC), the French affiliate of the FCI, in 1985. The goal to revive the breed had been achieved, the breed standard was relaxed, spots and docked tails were considered acceptable and the breed’s noted hunting instincts restored. The new breed standard was fully recognized by the SCC and FCI in 1991. The standard was then translated and published on the FCI website in 1998.